Patent US2374657A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5569869A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5569869A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Karaoke apparatus connectable to external MIDI apparatus with data merge
Assignee: Yamaha Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-20
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Granted: 1996-10-29
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Expires: 2014-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A karaoke apparatus responds to a request command for sounding a karaoke performance and is connectable to an external electronic musical apparatus for mixing an additional performance. A data supply is responsive to a request command for supplying an internal data representative of the karaoke performance. A data interface is connectable to an external electronic musical apparatus for admitting therefrom an external data representative of the additional performance. A merging controller merges the internal and external data with each other to avoid clashing therebetween. A sound source has a common tone generator for processing the merged internal and external data to concurrently sound the karaoke performance and the additional performance mixed with each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Takurou Sone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:13
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0033; G10H1/0041; G10H1/0058; G10H1/0066; G10H1/36; G10H1/361; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/011; G10H2240/031; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/201; G10H2240/241; G10H2240/245; G10H2250/00; G10H2250/541; G10H2250/571; G10H2250/591; G10H2250/595
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A karaoke apparatus responsive to a request command for sounding a karaoke performance and being connectable to an external electronic musical instrument, the karaoke apparatus comprising: supply means responsive to the request command for supplying internal data representative of the karaoke performance; interface means connectable to the external electronic musical apparatus for receiving external data representative of an additional performance from the external electronic musical apparatus; merging means for merging the internal and external data with each other to avoid clashing therebetween; and sound means including a common tone generator for processing the merged internal and external data to concurrently sound the karaoke performance and the additional performance that were merged with each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A karaoke apparatus responsive to a request command for sounding a karaoke performance and being connectable to an external electronic musical instrument, the karaoke apparatus comprising: supply means responsive to the request command for supplying internal data representative of the karaoke performance; interface means connectable to the external electronic musical apparatus for receiving external data representative of an additional performance from the external electronic musical apparatus; merging means for merging the internal and external data with each other to avoid clashing therebetween; and sound means including a common tone generator for processing the merged internal and external data to concurrently sound the karaoke performance and the additional performance that were merged with each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply means comprises means for supplying internal data having a MIDI format, and the interface means comprises means for receiving external data having the same MIDI format.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface means is connectable to an external electronic musical apparatus which is manually playable to merge a live additional performance during the course of the karaoke performance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the common tone generator has a plurality of channels to generate various musical tones involved in the karaoke performance and the additional performance, in which at least one of the plurality of channels is reserved for processing of the external data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the common tone generator has a plurality of channels shared by the internal and external data for generating various musical tones involved in the karaoke performance and the additional performance.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of merging MIDI data from separate sources to eliminate data clashing, the method comprising the steps of: receiving internal MIDI data packets from an internal source; transferring the internal MIDI data to a data bus; receiving external MIDI data packets from an external source; monitoring the data bus to ascertain the presence of an internal MIDI data packet on the data bus; and delaying the transfer of external MIDI data to the data bus until the last byte of the internal MIDI data packet passes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of merging MIDI data from separate sources to eliminate data clashing, the method comprising the steps of: receiving internal MIDI data packets from an internal source; transferring the internal MIDI data to a data bus; receiving external MIDI data packets from an external source; monitoring the data bus to ascertain the presence of an internal MIDI data packet on the data bus; and delaying the transfer of external MIDI data to the data bus until the last byte of the internal MIDI data packet passes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A karaoke apparatus responsive to a request command for sounding a karaoke performance and being connectable to an external electronic musical instrument, the karaoke apparatus comprising: a control device responsive to the request command for supplying internal data representative of the karaoke performance; an interface connectable to the external electronic musical apparatus for receiving external data representative of an additional performance from the external electronic musical apparatus; a data controller for merging the internal and external data with each other to avoid clashing therebetween; and an acoustic/graphic processor including a common tone generator for processing the merged internal and external data to concurrently sound the karaoke performance and the additional performance that were merged with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A karaoke apparatus responsive to a request command for sounding a karaoke performance and being connectable to an external electronic musical instrument, the karaoke apparatus comprising: a control device responsive to the request command for supplying internal data representative of the karaoke performance; an interface connectable to the external electronic musical apparatus for receiving external data representative of an additional performance from the external electronic musical apparatus; a data controller for merging the internal and external data with each other to avoid clashing therebetween; and an acoustic/graphic processor including a common tone generator for processing the merged internal and external data to concurrently sound the karaoke performance and the additional performance that were merged with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control device comprises means for supplying internal data having a MIDI format, and the interface comprises means for receiving external data having the same MIDI format.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the interface is connectable to an external electronic musical apparatus which is manually playable to merge a live additional performance during the course of the karaoke performance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the common tone generator has a plurality of channels to generate various musical tones involved in the karaoke performance and the additional performance, in which at least one of the plurality of channels is reserved for processing of the external data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the common tone generator has a plurality of channels shared by the internal and external data for generating various musical tones involved in the karaoke performance and the additional performance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the additional performance data is time delayed to eliminate data clashing with the internal data of the karaoke performance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A karaoke apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the data controller delays the additional performance data until the last byte of the karaoke performance data packet is off the data bus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |